Laci Peterson's brother Brent Rocha loads a rocking chair from her Modesto home into the back of a truck Friday morning.

Laci's things in tug of war

By GARTH STAPLEY and JOHN COTÉ

BEE STAFF WRITERS

Published: May 31, 2003, 07:16:10 AM PDT

Laci Peterson's family and friends removed truckloads of items from the slain Modesto woman's house on Friday, touching off controversy between her family and that of her husband.

Police responded to the Covena Avenue home at about 10 a.m. after a security company reported that the alarm had been triggered, Capt. Greg Savelli said.

Officers determined that Laci Peterson's family and friends were removing items that belonged to Laci, said Savelli, who added that officers documented what was taken.

"We're treating this as a civil dispute over property," he said. "It was clear to the Police Department that this was not a burglary.

Peterson's husband, Scott, 30, has been charged with double murder and faces the death penalty in the killings of his 27-year-old wife and their unborn son, Conner.

Savelli said the fallout from Friday's property removal "was best handled between the families and their attorneys."

Adam Stewart, an attorney for Laci Peterson's family, said the family had been in contact with Scott Peterson's defense team, who had agreed to allow Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, to go through the house on Tuesday. She was to be accompanied by representatives of the defense team, and all items taken were to be photographed and videotaped.

Scott Peterson's parents and lawyers expressed outrage that the Rochas did not follow the agreement.

Jackie Peterson said the people who went into the home Friday had "absolutely no permission to be in that house. I have a lot of empathy for Sharon, but she does not have a right to go in our house and take what she wants."

Rocha did not appear to be among the packers. Calls placed to the Rocha home were not accepted.

Seven vehicles loaded

Among the items loaded into seven vehicles were a crib, a rocking chair and a box with Graco printed on the outside. Graco makes such products as strollers, highchairs and car seats.

Laci Peterson's family announced Wednesday that it had hired attorneys to help recover items from the house. A list included her wedding dress, jewelry and Conner's crib.

Jackie Peterson told The Bee that the security company notified her by telephone in San Diego County that the house alarm had been tripped.

The property removal appeared to take Scott Peterson's defense team by surprise.

Matthew Dalton, an attorney with lead defense attorney Mark Geragos' law firm, drove to the house and asked reporters if someone had reported a burglary.

Dalton went to Stewart's Modesto law office Friday morning and dropped off some items requested by the Rocha family, Stewart said.

Monday, the defense team moved other items, including what appeared to be gifts, to the Modesto office of defense co-counsel Kirk McAllister, for transfer to Laci Peterson's family. But the items had not been picked up by Friday morning, McAllister said.

Stewart said in front of the home that it would be "ridiculous" to suggest that the Rochas broke into the home.

"I apologize for it coming down to this," he said. "This is not the way we operate. This is for Laci, for Conner and Laci's family. It is not for the media or Mr. Scott Peterson's defense in any way, shape or form. It's depressing that it's come down to this."

Stanislaus County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold said prosecutors had no legal authority over the house.

"It's not a crime scene," Goold said. " This is a civil problem between the Rochas and the Petersons."

The house title is in Laci and Scott Petersons' names, county records show. In such a joint tenancy, when one titleholder dies, the title goes to the other.

Incident brings Peterson case close to home Victim's family moves items from house, raising the issue of ownership.

By Garth Stapley and John Coté The Modesto Bee

(Published Saturday, May 31, 2003, 4:47 AM)

MODESTO -- Laci Peterson's family and friends removed truckloads of items from the slain Modesto woman's house Friday, touching off controversy between her family and that of her husband.

Police officers were dispatched after a security company notified them that the alarm at the Covena Avenue home had been triggered, Capt. Greg Savelli said.

Officers determined that members of the Rocha family and friends of Laci Peterson were removing items that belonged to the slain woman and documented what was taken, Savelli said.

"We're treating this as a civil dispute over property," he said. "It was clear to the police department that this was not a burglary. It was a dispute over property and was best handled between the families and their attorneys."

Friday, in his ruling on all the documents, Girolami said releasing them "might irreparably harm the continued investigation into this criminal matter."

"Despite the fact that the complaint has been issued and a suspect has been arrested, the investigation and search for both incriminating and exonerating evidence in this matter continues," Girolami wrote.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys argued that releasing the documents could impede Peterson's right to a fair trial and damage an ongoing investigation.

Girolami agreed, saying in his ruling that releasing the documents "might result in the evidence being destroyed and witnesses being reluctant to step forward."

A group of newspapers, including The Bee, are seeking to have the documents unsealed.

Right to view reports argued

Charity Kenyon, an attorney representing the newspapers, argued that the public's right to view court documents was fundamental in an open legal system.

MODESTO, Calif. (AP) - A judge ruled Friday that an autopsy report on the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn son should remain sealed along with other search warrant and arrest records.

Superior Court Judge Al Girolami said releasing the information could hamper the murder investigation and prejudice public opinion before a trial begins.

Girolami is scheduled to hear more arguments June 6 from prosecutors preparing a murder case against Peterson's husband, Scott Peterson. Prosecutors on Thursday asked that the autopsy reports be released to the public. They argued that media leaks of the reports are biased toward the defense.

Girolami also ordered that leaks of sealed information stop and indicated he would consider a gag order to stop the prosecution and defense teams from talking to the media.

Scott Peterson, 30, is accused of killing his wife and unborn son, whom the couple had planned to name Conner, last December in their home. Laci, 27, was eight months pregnant at the time. The bodies washed ashore in San Francisco Bay last month.

Contra Costa County authorities concluded their autopsy report earlier this month, but did not disclose the cause of death.

Several media outlets have released details of the coroner's report, and a spokeswoman for Laci Peterson's family members said Thursday they were "devastated" at hearing autopsy reports without warning on television.

The leaked reports indicated the unborn son had plastic tape wrapped around his neck and a significant cut across the shoulders.

Meanwhile, friends of Laci Peterson removed several personal articles Friday from the single-story Modesto home where she and Scott Peterson lived.

May 31, 2003 -- Laci Peterson's mother - shattered by the graphic details leaked from the 25-page autopsy of her unborn grandson - yesterday began removing her slain daughter's belongings from the home she had shared with her accused murderer husband, Scott.

Sharon Rocha, accompanied by several friends and relatives, was seen at the Modesto, Calif., house removing the rocking chair Laci had bought to use when she nursed her infant son, as well as unopened Christmas gifts, clothing, chairs, lamps and artwork.

In doing so, she ignored the advice of her lawyer, Al Clark, that she wait until he, Scott Peterson's lawyers and court officials work out the procedures to be followed when she entered the house.

Modesto police arrived while Rocha was there, and she and her entourage left a short time later after packing seven cars full of Laci's belongings.

Hours later, lawyers representing Laci's family and Scott Peterson started haggling over whether removing the items was legal.

Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie, expressed outrage that the items had been removed since Laci's family had "absolutely no permission to be in that house."

Scott Peterson has pleaded not guilty to killing his wife and their unborn son.

Laci's family said Wednesday that they had hired lawyers to help them retrieve a baby crib and jewelry from the home.

Meanwhile, Clark told Fox News his client's anger over the grisly revelations leaked from her daughter's and grandson's sealed autopsy reports drove her to go get her daughter's possessions.

A family spokeswoman said Rocha was "devastated" by the reports describing how the near full-term fetus of her grandson Conner had plastic tape wrapped around the neck and a large cut across the chest when he was found in the shallow waters of San Francisco Bay last month.

"Jackie Peterson said the people who went into the home Friday had "absolutely no permission to be in that house. I have a lot of empathy for Sharon, but she does not have a right to go in our house and take what she wants."

"our house!" Huh?

Is Jackie Peterson's name on the deed?

It's okay for the Peterson family to go into the house any time they want, but Laci's family couldn't? These people are sick. I think someone should check to see just what it is Jackie Peterson has been inhaling from that oxygen tank!!

no, not to the defense, upon the victims family, Rocha and Grantski! Most of these breaking news items since Geragos took the case, are all coming from his defense team, and him. So, no, it is not devasting to Geragos, he called war on the this! KTVU story..

7
posted on 05/31/2003 8:52:36 AM PDT
by runningbear
(Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)

It's okay for the Peterson family to go into the house any time they want, but Laci's family couldn't? These people are sick. I think someone should check to see just what it is Jackie Peterson has been inhaling from that oxygen tank!!

Hmmm... let's see - the deed was in Scott and Laci Peterson's Name. When one dies, the title transfers (if I read that right) to the one still alive, therefore the house belongs soley to Scott Peterson, so no, Laci's family had no legal right to enter that home and start removing items...

11
posted on 05/31/2003 8:59:46 AM PDT
by Chad Fairbanks
(A blind man received a cheese grater as a gift - said it was the most violent thing he had ever read)

Story was told that security company called police, but police said...no Jackie Peterson was the one that called police. Jackie Peterson had told Gretta on Fox via telephone that they had no problem with Rocha's going into home. Scott Peterson is not the only liar in the family. Peterson lawyers say Rocha's defiled the crime scene that the Peterson's had been in many times ! Peterson's defense is sure winning the P.R. game...ha ha

Yeah, I don't see how it makes any difference, unless, for example she WAS killed in that house, and we later find that Laci's family removed something that could have and should have been used as evidence... But I doubt the police (I'm assuming the police were competent, but you never know) would have let them continue if that were the case...

14
posted on 05/31/2003 9:05:08 AM PDT
by Chad Fairbanks
(A blind man received a cheese grater as a gift - said it was the most violent thing he had ever read)

KING: We'll get back to our panel at the bottom of the hour. We're going to spend these moments on the phone with Lee Peterson, Scott Peterson's father, and Janey Peterson, Scott Peterson's sister- in-law. Lee, what did you make of the occurrences today of going to the house?

LEE PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S FATHER: Well, I think it was best summed up by Matt Dalton. He's one of our attorneys there, and he was at the house while this was going on, and he turned to the media and he said, has anybody filed a report on this burglary? And I believe there were police officers standing right there. And he repeated that several times. Has anybody reported this burglary? I mean, this was a burglary. My -- that home and its contents are my son's possessions.

KING: But don't you have any sympathy for the mother wanting some of the possessions of her late daughter?

L. PETERSON: Larry, I do, and we had an arrangement with Sharon's attorney and with the district attorney that after we, meaning Mark Geragos and the team, videoed the inside of the home, something we needed to do for our defense, we would -- we would allow access to Sharon. She knew that. Her attorney knew that. In fact, he advised against her going in that home. I heard that on an earlier segment on MSNBC.

KING: So she broke the agreement is what you are saying.

L. PETERSON: She broke the agreement, and she uses as an excuse that she is devastated by the autopsy results -- reports on little Connor. Well, my wife Jackie was devastated, as was I. I mean, my wife could not leave the house yesterday, but instead of grieving, Sharon apparently planned this break-in. There were half a dozen vehicles at that house, and I'd like to to -- you know, Nancy says, well, all she wanted was the wedding dress and a few sentimental things. Well, I saw at least three pickup trucks full of furniture, full of cartons, God knows what going out of that house.

KING: Let me ask Janey something, Lee. Janey, what did you think of the release of that autopsy, portions of that autopsy report?

JANEY PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S SISTER-IN-LAW: Well, it was very difficult. I think you, you know, when all this started, we all kind of stopped ourselves from going down that path of thinking of that most horrific, gruesome thing that maybe could have happened, and when some of these realities start coming out, you know, you are forced to face it. Then it is very difficult, and, you know, we all have children and this is just another example of -- I mean, even the day that Laci and Connor were identified, our family found out on national television. You know, it's a very difficult way to have very tragic circumstances in your life being handled. You know, we all have kids in school who are exposed to the Internet, and you know, we don't know what's going to pop up in their face at any given moment that they don't already know.

KING: This whole thing is a tragedy. Janey, naturally, you believe in the innocence of your brother-in-law.

J. PETERSON: Absolutely.

KING: His attorneys have said that they know who might do this. Do you think you know who might have done this?

J. PETERSON: Yes.

KING: And that is?

J. PETERSON: You know, all I can say is that -- is that it amazes me how far their investigation has come once they were handed the tips, and started -- and started following up on all the witnesses and the reports and...

KING: You mean your investigation?

J. PETERSON: Exactly. When Scott was arrested.

KING: Are you saying that you know how this happened? You know who is responsible?

J. PETERSON: I don't know specific details, but, you know, just in watching how their investigations has gone and knowing, you know, they encourage us in generic ways to let us know that they're definitely...

KING: Someone else did it.

J. PETERSON: Yes.

KING: Lee, are the investigators for you turning the information over to the police? Or is it just being used as a trial weapon?

L. PETERSON: I don't know a lot about that, Larry. I know that the police investigators are following our investigators around, for whatever purpose. You draw your own conclusion there, but...

KING: Do you back up what Janey said? Do the investigators tell you that they have leads that tell them that someone else did this?

L. PETERSON: Oh, yes. Yes. No question.

KING: When was the last time you spoke to Scott, Lee?

L. PETERSON: I spoke to Scott today. He was -- I'll tell you where Scott was. He was in with Matt Dalton, one of the attorneys, in fact, the fellow you showed on your little clip there, and he was preparing a list of sentimental things that he thought Sharon would like. This is the kind of young man he is. And he was doing this when he was -- excuse me, when Matt was called away because of the break-in in the house.

KING: How did Scott react to that break-in?

L. PETERSON: He was -- he said, "I can't believe it, dad, why would they do that?"

One of the attorneys last night on Larry King (I think the great Nancy Grace) said there has not been a death certificate issued yet, so legally Laci is still part owner. WHEN Scott is found guilty he is entitled to ZILCH except maybe his very personal belongings (undies etc) and the house goes to Laci's family anyway.

I think the Peterson's, Mark Geragos and especially that Dalton guy are all making this much worse for Scott because those that didn't hate him before this do now!!!!

That may be, but it's not Jackie Peterson's house either, and the fact that she calls it "our house" is totally out of line.

I haven't heard if Laci had a Will. Does anybody know?

I also watched Greta's show on Fox last night. I thought she was going to have some of Laci's friends on talking about the Peterson marriage. I don't remember seeing that. Can anyone fill me in on it. Was there anybody actually on, and if so, did they give any new insight into the Scaughty/Laci marriage?

Silly me. I don't understasnd why the house and its contents, including Laci's possessions, should be accessible to the Peterson family but off limits to the Rochas. They are acting like it is THEIR home, and the Rochas are interlopers. Why should they have control? The Rochas certainly have as much right to enter as the Petersons. Their daughter owned that home, as well.

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